Ordinarily, Skulduggery would have seen that coming and dodged just as easily. Ordinarily he would have used the air to slam the shotgun off to the side, the awkward angle of attack only a barrier in wrenching the gun from Anton's grip completely. But Skulduggery wasn't Skulduggery, and moreover seemed to have forgotten that he was capable of manipulating the air at all.

Anton's cold-cock landed, spinning Skulduggery off to the side instead of the gun. He fell against the cave wall, launched himself off of it, and came back around for another attack, illusory flesh rising to cover his skull. It didn't quite make a recognisable face before Skulduggery summoned a line of fire and manipulated it like a whip, striking out at Anton's legs.